San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-09
THE RIGHT OF SELF GOVERN
MENT

The presence OF Attorney General
Hogg In this city Is theme for fruitful
comment. His presence, for the avowed
purpose OF Interposing the states au-
thority In the matter OF our local affairs,
calls for the most serious and unimpas-
stoned consideration. His presence, I'M
der circumstances which have no pre-
cedent in the history OF these United
States, may well cause the citizens OF
this city and OF this state the most seri-
GUS concern. Never In the darkest days
OF puritanical restriction, under the most
oppressive system OF repression that
ever cursed Connecticut or Massachu-
sets WAS Ii known that the state
usurped the functions OF the county and
Of the municipality, and attempted to
override the juries OF both. Never be-
fore has any state endeavored TO over
awe peaceable citizens in any local COM
munity. or to Interfere with local gov
eminent where the state taxes were
regularly paid and the life and proper
ty OF citizens was secure.
Here In San Antonio business and
trade pursue their legitimate channels,
and no complaint is made that these are
interfered with-the men, women and
children OF the city pass up and
down our streets at all hours Of the day
and at all hours OF the night with none
to modest. The marts Of trade, the
temples Of fashion. the halls OF pleasure
are all open aud the multitudes 90 and
come without molestation. The
churches are thronged with worshippers,
and the schools Of all kinds with pupils,
and no where is there discomfort, dis
affection or disorder; much less is there
riot, bloodshed or any disturbance OF
the public peace. Yet in spite of all
this, without any requisitiOn from the
municipal authorities, without any
claim that such interference is desired by
the municipal assembly or the county
bOard-the governor Of this state has
sent his attorney general to this city TO
attempt to coerce her citizens into an en-
forced verdict by jury In certain cases
clearly regarded here as extra judicial,
so far as the authority of the attorney
general Ia concerned. Ii the verdiots OF
San Antonio jurles are displessing do
these against whom they are rendered,
be 1t the private citizen or the state, the
remedy is by appeal. IL the law is
considered so unjust and ty-
rsnical and obnoxious as to
find none willing to execute 1t
II It's local operation, that local
Judgment, oonoeTning none but herself, is
righteOusly final. >-.......
This hitherto unhesrd of attempt &c
usurp the functions OF local courts, to
browbeat juries and intimidste into a
verdict contrary to the sentiment of JUS
tice prevailing here, Is a new thing
under the sun in these United States. 1t
remains for the democracy, the true
blue democracy Of Texas, the state that
has only FIVE REPUBLICAN representa-
tives out OF the one hundred and fifty
comprising her legislsture-it re-
mains for Texas to perpetrate
this Injustice, to commit this crime
against local government, to thus
usurp the functions OF municipal and
county courts. to thus override the YER
dots Of local juries in matter purely To-
cal, and demonstrate just how far
democratic administration can go In
placing its foot upon the neck of the
people when not deferred by the checks
OF strong republican minority.
Never in the blacklist days OF black re-
publican rule In Texas, even under the
pressure OF reconstruction necessities,
never was such a usurpation
OF authority witnessed In Texas
as this. The republican, party is guilt
less in this thing. 1t washes it's hands
OF the whole matter. 1t throws the
ONiN"B wv duu
damaging reinforcement OF local'govern-
ment, and the usurpstlon of the people g
rights, and the refusal to abide by the
verdicts OF juries properly constituted
under legal fOrms-it throws this whole
monstrOus wrong upon the head and
shoulders Of the democratic party OF
Texas, which by ma jOrity of 1000
placed the democratic administration In
power which has done this thing.
Has justice and q sense OF the power
of popular Judgment clean gone from
the democracy of Texas? Is San An
tonic the mere fOotstOol of the state ex-
ecutiye upon which he should thus
wipe his feet? Have these people no
right to control their home affairs and
conduct their local self-goveInment
only as 1t ia approved in the executive
mansion? When was the rights OF a
state ever so invaded by federal author
ity as the right OF this municipality is
now invaded by the state? No federal
Capitalization OF power ever ap.
| preached In Its bold aggres-
siveness this Capitalization OF state
authority. Carried to its Legitimate
conclusions 1t dethrOnes all power In
the state, voids all processes OF courts
disregards the will OF the people in all
affairs OF local self government and
vetOes their acts, makes the chief exeou.
tives an irresponsible autocrat whose
sole will must be Obeyed-and does this
In the name and by the authority of d
| 10000 democratic majority. Thank
| justice and genuine republicanism such
things are unheard OF In republican
states. In the name OF justice and re-
puolicanism the LIGHT protests against
this crime against local self government